Below is the statement released by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister, Wong Kan Seng, over the security lapse yesterday at Changi airport’s budget terminal.

Read about the story here.

Minister Wong’s statement:

‘I AM totally appalled and flabbergasted at this slip-up at the airport checkpoint.

The officers who failed to spot the discrepancy between the name in the man’s passport and on his boarding pass, will be taken to task.

But this will not be enough. I have been reminding officers of the need for vigilance repeatedly after each lapse of human error. Obviously the message is not sinking in deep enough to the last man.

I want all the heads of departments in the Home Team to directly take charge and step up checks to ensure vigilance on the ground at all levels and leave no room for complacency. They will have to do whatever it takes to get this going.

Just last week, I had directed the Ministry HQ’s Homefront Security Division to work with all the departments to review their security systems and processes. This may take time but we will get it done as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, all the heads of department will be calling up their subordinate commanders and managers and tightening scrutiny and supervision on the ground.

Each of the 26,000-plus officers in the Home Team has a sworn duty to do his or her job well. They deal with more than 350,000 people each day in the line of duty.

Mistakes will happen occasionally, but the Home Team has to keep these to the absolute minimum, especially where the potential consequences are extremely serious. They clearly cannot afford to be complacent, and must stay alert at all times.

There is no other way if they are to remain effective and not disappoint Singaporeans who put their trust in the Home Team to keep them safe. Any lapse by any department in the Home Team is a failure which all in the Home Team family must bear.’

————–

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

Open Letter to ST's Andy Ho

Editor's note: This is the original opinion piece by Andy Ho in…

HDB – A new boss and a new direction equal new policies?

Andy Soon/ Mr Khaw Boon Wan’s blog mentioned the young couples, divorcees…

Netizens concerned over apparent lack of masks available as demands rise

It seems the country is running out of masks and the people…

国外传康复后再感染病例 国家传染病中心:对出院患者采额外防御措施

昨日(27日)日本传出有患者在感染武汉冠状病毒康复后再度感染,造成人心惶惶,人们纷纷对康复后的患者提出质疑,是否存在再感染的风险。国家传染病中心(NCID)对此表示,这不太可能发生在新加坡,因为患者在出院前, 医护人员会对他们采取额外的防御措施。 在此之前,本地已有62名患者康复出院,国家传染病中心的专家表示,这些患者已经过确认体内并无病毒的存在,因此无法将其传染给其他人。 然而,专家也表示,目前仍无法掌握患者是否可多次感染的现象,因为仍未有足够的样本数探究。 国家传染病中心临床主任兼高级顾问医生苏安华素(Shawn Vasoo)认为,对于再度感染的现象是极少发生的状况,但仍保留其说法,并会对此进行评估。 为了能够重复确认,中心已开始对出院后两周的患者,在后续追踪时,采取抽查的可能。 日本大阪政府于26日证实一名40多岁的女性导游于本月1日康复出院后,26日再次被验出阳性反应。 但当局表示,并未掌握太多相关信息,而且正与日本当局确认具体状况。 除了日本传出有康复者再度感染,中国也曾出现类似案例。四川省卫生健康委员会已证实,一名住在四川成都“望江锦园”、感染武汉冠病的民众,治愈后回到家中隔离,但在第10天复检时再次确诊。 专家:若呼吸道存在病毒脱落的现象,即具备出院资格 《海峡时报》也对此向专家请教,国家传染病中心主任梁玉心教授解释,要判断是否具有传染风险则需视患者呼吸道的病毒传播情况,医生在检测上会特别注意是否在呼吸道上仍存在活跃病毒,并具传染风险。…